Stories That Inspire

Your story is a beacon of hope. Share it today.

Your story reminds us that we're not alone.

At The Alzheimer's Site, we hope to bring together those who have been touched by Alzheimer's disease to share hope, inspiration, and information. Your story can be about yourself, someone you've loved your whole life, or someone you met only briefly. More than 5 million people in the U.S. live with this disease, and the number of people affected around the world is growing each day.

Your story has the potential to bring hope, support, and empathy to others whose lives have been touched by Alzheimer's. A few words of hope can mean the world.

Wish I had known beforehand that this was going to be on. Dr. Spncer Reid has a meeting with a criminal mastermind and ends up revealing facts about Alzheimers Disease and Alcohol-Related Dementia. Very interesting & moving.

My mother was the most amazing person I have ever known. She has been gone awhile now but I miss her every day and I 'talk' to her every day. She held down a full time high pressure job as a trail blazer in her field and raised 2 kids by herself after my Dad died. She was not perfect but she tried to be and everything she did was for us. She did know we were turning out pretty good and got to enjoy her 2 grandsons a while before she starting slipping away and I think this disease was the worst fate she could have faced. the blessing? By the time it was full blown she could not really express her frustration as I know she would have wanted to. We must find a way to control/cure/prevent this horrid process.

Sherrill Temple is my mom and in her late 60's she was diagnosed with dementia (Alzheimer's). I am her daughter and primary caregiver, and have been taking care of her for what will be 9 years in Jan. 2016. She had no doctor, no life insurance, very little health insurance, no will, and not a clue why she needed these things. There was something seriously wrong, this was not the mom I knew. No one stepped up to help my mom except me, and I was on my way back to Kansas City after going back to school at 40 and getting two degrees.

Taking care of my mom, long term, was not in the plan. I was trying to give myself a better shot at life as I was getting older...that was the plan. But I had watched my mom work 2 and 3 jobs my entire young life so my brother and I could have everything. The way I saw this situation is that my mom had earned her placed in this world, and it became clear that she was going to lose the house and everything she had ever known, and that my brother could not be counted on.

To be put in a home or assisted living, was not the answer for my mom, I believed she deserved to be a home that has been in our family for almost 100 years. This is where she belongs and it was her ONLY request. I have done everything to make sure that she is safe, and cared for in an environment that she knows. But this was not without sacrifice and loss on my part as family and caregiver. But personally, I could not just walk away.

There is nothing in this for me, except to know I did the right thing when it mattered. My grandfather had Alzheimer's too, and there is every chance that I will have this disease as well. There is an answer...solution...cure to this disease, and we must never stop searching for it.

This is for a dear friend of mind that passed away this last Saturday, his name is Frank Ohenmus. We met back in 1972 while I was dating one of his nieces, he did not like me but as time went by I grew on him. As the years passed we became very good friends. After I got divorced from his niece, he and his family went to my 2nd wedding. That meant a lot to me. Unfortunately as time passed we grew apart, but I was to some degree always in contact with him. He was the smartest man that I had ever met. He just passed away from the disease called Alzheimer’s, as you all know that is very hard to deal with as a caregiver, yet his loving family was there for him to the end. I am unable to say all that I would like to about this man, because of the restrictions on words to post. But, I want his family to know that I always loved him and his wife whom passed away a few years ago. He is now with her, and my sorrow goes out to his entire family. He was a great Naval Officer during his career and excelled in every aspect of his life. The picture of him he is in the middle, although it is about 25 plus years old, it is how I would like to remember him. I am grateful to have been a part of his life and his family, I will, as his family will, miss him very much. Rest in peace my friend, love Tim.

It is 4 am, I tucked My Honey in bed a few hours ago, I am sitting here having a moment alone, and tomorrow is my 60th birthday. I met John on a blind date 43 years ago. Next week will also be our 39th wedding anniversary. John was diagnosed with early onset 11 years ago at age 52. Who would have known at such a young age of 49 I would become a caregiver for the love of my life. We were both in denial for years and I searched Dr. after Dr. to tell me something different. He is now in stage 6 which is moderate to severe, I pray that the final stage does not come quick. Sometimes I feel selfish praying this because I know he is suffering and He tells me he just wants it to be over. I miss that man that was so independent, a leader of our family and such a good loving husband and father. We have one son, and my husband keeps remembering taking him to the school bus stop in his military uniform, Our son Johnny went to military school 1st and 2nd grade. We now have a beautiful daughter in law Iaisha, and Jeremiah and Hannah our 2 grandchildren. They help their grandpa when they see him. They know he is sick, but are too young to understand what is happening. It breaks my heart to see them take him by the hand and guide him where he needs to go. Also my Honey will not be able to experience his grandchildren the way we had hoped for. He tells me he will never forget me because I am His Love, his brain, and his helper. We have had a wonderful life together. These last 11 years have been difficult and so heartbreaking but I give thanks to God for allowing me to be home with him everyday. We were both able to retire at our young age right after he was diagnosed. This is our story and I continue to pray for a cure. God bless.